Canadian Football League free agency will probably hit with several big-name players still not signed by their respective teams, meaning they will hit the open market and start to field calls from other CFL clubs.

Eskimos vice-president of football and general manager Brock Sunderland expects Day 1 of free agency to be filled with significant signings.

“I think on Tuesday you will see six to eight, maybe 10, big-name, big-money players sign deals,” he said.

Sunderland expects it will then get quiet for many players.

“In March, all of a sudden some players will be sitting around saying, ‘Geez, I thought I was going to get significant money.'”

Teams only have so much money to spend and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Sunderland says players have to decide if a little bit of extra money is worth the hassle of moving and leaving a good a situation behind.

“The scheme fits, the coach fits, the environment fits, the locker room fits, can you get $10,000 more some where else? Yes. Truth is after taxes, is it worth changing everything.”

The incredible amount of injuries they had in 2017 forced them to sign many players to one-year deals to get them through the season. Many of the 37 free agents will not even be offered contracts; 12 have been re-signed, two have left for the NFL, three have been released and one traded. Negotiations with others will go right up to the deadline, says Sunderland.